. PARRAMATTA coach Ricky Stuart was left seething a month ago, after discovering that club directors had privately discussed a move to hire predecessor Brian Smith to run an independent review of the football department.
The revelation comes at crucial juncture for the Eels and Stuart, who has received informal overtures to quit the final two years of his current deal and coach Canberra in 2014.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal at least one newly elected Eels board member, Peter Serrao, recently urged an independent review of the club’s coaching structure, following three consecutive years of failure.
Smith and another ex-Eels coach, Michael Hagan, were raised as candidates to run the review.
In the role for less than a year, Stuart was disappointed when he learned about the proposal and is believed to have spoken with Serrao.
Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp said the idea had since been abandoned and no review would be conducted.
Ricky Stuart shows frustration at his team. Picture: Mark Evans
“It was something that one director might have mentioned, but was never raised in the boardroom and it’s not something that will be happening,” Sharp said.
“Ricky set up a great structure for NSW Origin when he was coaching the Blues and we back him to do that here.”
The idea that Stuart’s department would be placed under independent scrutiny so soon into his three-year contract illustrates his increasingly rocky relationship with some members of the split board.
The Daily Telegraph this week revealed the Eels board was now fractured three ways, with another director – Lawrence Shepherd – now at odds with his ParraFirst running mates from this year’s election.
Shepherd is closely aligned with ex-CEO Denis Fitzgerald, who is attempting to advise the board on a range of key decisions.
Daley Mail: Eels V DragonsMatt Russell and Laurie Daley preview the round 25 clash between the Eels and Dragons.(3:08 / 3.3MB)
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It’s understood Shepherd is not as supportive of Stuart as other directors, which still include loyalists from the old board who appointed the 2002 premiership winner last year.
Sharp has publicly distanced himself from Fitzgerald’s influence, creating a wedge between his faction and the Fitzgerald-aligned Shepherd.
Stuart could not be contacted for comment, but is firmly on Canberra’s radar to replace sacked coach and former Raiders team mate David Furner in 2014.
He wants to finish the difficult job of rebuilding Parramatta, but should the fractured board continue to agitate there’s every chance he could seriously entertain a possible offer from the Raiders.
Stuart has also overhauled the roster, telling 12 players they are unwanted for next season.
Parramatta Eels' golden eraA look back at the star studded Parramatta Eels' team of the 1980's.(3:47 / 4.2MB)
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Since making the tough call in early June, Parramatta have won just a single game as several players struggle to find the motivation to perform week-in, week-out.
Unwanted pair Reni Maitua and Cheyse Blair have secured deals with the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles respectively, while fullback Jake Mullaney looks set to join UK Super League outfit Salford.
With halfback Chris Sandow in rehab for serious gambling issues, the Eels are now eying former Manly playmaker Liam Foran as a possible back-up option.
